President Rodrigo Duterte himself denied that he was rushed to the hospital after his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.
According to the President, after the SONA, he ate at a restaurant.
In an interview with dzBB, Duterte said he was fine and did not just use the helicopter back to Malacañang because it was raining, so he landed.
The issue of the President’s health resurfaced after it almost slipped inside the session hall, which was immediately supported by his two security aides.
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque immediately clarified that Duterte was not trampled on, so he almost fell but only “slipped a bit.”
Roque also assured that there was no problem with the President’s health and that it only took a while to talk to lawmakers.
At around 8:30 pm, they left the Batasan Complex because Duterte’s confrontation with senators and members of Congress took so long.
In August 2020, Duterte revealed that his doctor told him that his Barrett’s esophagus was “nearing stage one cancer.”
Also read: Duterte returning early from Japan due to ‘unbearable pain’ in spinal column
Duterte denies being hospitalized after SONA
Duterte previously revealed he has Barrett’s esophagus due to his alcohol intake.
“Matagal na kami sa gobyerno, magpa-retire na lang, bakit pa namin pagsayangan? Kakaunting panahon na lang ang naiwan so walang… walang… walang ganang… wala nang ganang kumain ,” he then said.
(We have been in government for a long time. We will retire soon, so why would we waste it? We have a few years left. We no longer have an appetite to eat.)
The President added that older people like him are now more concerned about staying healthy and not gaining wealth.
“May pera ka naman, hindi ka na makakain kay sabi ng doktor huwag kang kumain ng taba kasi mamatay ka,” he said.
(You have money, but you can’t eat because the doctors said you must not eat fat because you will die.)
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